Gayle King

Gayle King may have entered most of the American consciousness as the loyal best friend of Oprah Winfrey, but this powerhouse television anchor has wowed audiences everywhere with her thoughtful interviewing style. King has gone toe to toe with combative subjects like disgraced R&B artist R. Kelly. And she’s taken us inside harrowing personal experiences like the night Megan Thee Stallion was shot. Even in moments where she’s taken the heat for her line of questioning like in the infamous Lisa Leslie interview, King has remained true to her convictions. And King isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. In January of this year, King signed a new multi-year deal with CBS to remain on as anchor of CBS Mornings. “I still feel that in many ways I’m just getting started,” said King on her radio show after the news was announced. This champion of the interview arena undoubtedly earns her spot on The Root 100 list. And, we cannot wait to tune into years more of King breaking down news that’s near and dear to the Black community.